Starsem, the joint French and Russian company which markets the Soyuz booster for commercial launches, has awarded a contract to Aerospatiale of France to build the payload dispenser designed for launches of satellite constellations.
The 400kg "intelligent" dispenser will be used to carry four Loral Globalstar mobile-communications satellites during launch and in space, ensuring their transfer from injection orbit into final orbit and then jettisoning them at the right position.
Aerospatiale will design and build the dispensers in co-operation with Russian company TsSKB-Progress, which is responsible for the new Icare third stage of the Soyuz booster.
The dispenser, with its payload of four Globalstars each weighing 465kg, will measure 3.5m high and 3m in diameter and will weigh a total of 2,300kg. Three satellites will be attached vertically in the lower part of the dispenser and the fourth will be attached horizontally on the upper part.
The first of three contracted Soyuz-Globalstar launches is scheduled to be conducted in October 1998.
Source: Flight International
